Support to the Armenian National Assembly Program (SANAP) Quarterly Report (July 1–September 30, 2014)

The program aims to enhance the National Assembly's institutional capacity by achieving four objectives: increasing representation of citizens' interests, improving oversight of the executive branch, enhancing analytical capacity, and clarifying rules and procedures governing selected committees. SANAP was awarded to Tetra Tech in September 2012, with a budget of $4,269,138. The program works with parliamentary committees to support their current issues and priorities, promoting greater civil society participation, effective parliament hearings, better research and reporting, and more effective budget and program scrutiny. SANAP provides logistical support for hearings and outreach visits, sponsors experts, funds parliament fellows, and hosts capacity-building activities for staff. During the first year of the project, SANAP worked with five standing committees: Financial - Credit and Budgetary Affairs, Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs, State and Legal Affairs, Territorial Affairs and Local Self-Government, and Ethics. Beginning October 2014, SANAP began working with three additional committees: Healthcare, Maternity and Childhood, Agriculture and Environment, and Economic Affairs. To achieve its objectives, SANAP partners with committees on current issues they are facing and uses the committee's set priorities to organize greater civil society participation, more effective parliament hearings, better research and reporting, and more effective budget and program scrutiny. SANAP also supports parliament website enhancements, is partnering with parliament to create a Training Resource Center, and is working with the National Assembly to apply best practice and institutionalize various parliament processes. SANAP's work with individual MPs elected from single-member districts aims to strengthen constituent links. The program works with the Chief of Staff's Office to support process review and improvement. SANAP's goal is to help parliament become a more equal partner in governing by supporting the three functions of parliament: representation, legislation, and oversight (monitoring/scrutiny). The program's activities are focused on supporting parliamentary committees and individual MPs to enhance their capacity and effectiveness. SANAP's work includes providing logistical support for hearings and outreach visits, sponsoring experts, funding parliament fellows, and hosting capacity-building activities for staff. The program's ultimate goal is to strengthen the National Assembly's institutional capacity and promote good governance in Armenia.